Tuesday, January 8
San Francisco Bach Choir, Magen Solomon, Director
“Bach and Brew: A Musical Sing-in” SFBC is taking over Standard Deviant Brewing for an evening of socializing and singing! Enjoy a cold brew and a taste of the Bach Choir. Artistic Director Magen Solomon will lead everyone through highlights of SFBC’s May 2018 concert program, as well as a few drinking songs. Beer and food will be available for sale. Grab a singing friend, and join this fun night of singing, food, companionship, and beer!
6 PM Food, beer, and socializing; 7:30 PM Group sing; 8:30 PM More beer & socializing!
Standard Deviant Brewing
280 14th St., San Francisco
Free but pre-registration required: https://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/3906123
855-473-2224
Sacramento Recorder Society
Regular meeting for recorder players, with guest conductor Jerry Schwartz. Newcomers welcome. Bring recorders, stand, and other early instruments. Music provided. Refreshments.
6:45–9:30 PM
Friends Meeting House
890 57th St., between H and J, Sacramento.
sacrecorders.wordpress.com
Wednesday, January 9
Mid-Peninsula Recorder Orchestra
Regular meeting, for players of recorder, early winds or early strings. Bring your instrument(s) and music stand.
7:30–9:30 PM
Trinity Church, Angus Hall
330 Ravenswood Ave. (at Laurel), Menlo Park
650-591-3648 or mpro-online.org
Friday, January 11
SFEMS presents Ars Lyrica Houston Chamber Players
“Semper Phantasticus!” A trio of powerhouse players—harpsichordist Matthew Dirst, violinist Elizabeth Blumenstock and gambist Mary Springfels—perform a program exploring that most avant-garde mode of music-making among German composers of the 17th and early 18th centuries—the Stylus phantasticus. Extravagant works for violin, viola da gamba, and harpsichord in solos and in combination will include sonatas by Dietrich Buxtehude and Heinrich Ignaz Franz Biber, two of the greatest exponents of the “fantastical style,” alongside free works by August Kerzinger, Philipp Heinrich Erlebach, Antonio Bertali, Michelangelo Rossi, and Johann Sebastian Bach. Founded in 1998 by Dirst, Ars Lyrica Houston is the leading early music group in Texas, whose pioneering efforts have won international acclaim, including a Grammy Award nomination for their world premiere recording of Johann Adolf Hasse’s Marc’Antonio e Cleopatra. Blumenstock and Springfels, together with Dirst, formed the subset of Ars Lyrica Chamber Players several years ago, performing programs in Houston and Santa Fe, New Mexico. These performances mark their West Coast debut as a trio, though all three are well known and highly regarded artists in this region. Read more . . .
8 PM
First Presbyterian Church
1140 Cowper Street (at Lincoln), Palo Alto
General $45, Seniors $40.50, SFEMS Members $38.25, Students with ID $15
Buy tickets online or phone 510-528-1725
www.sfems.org
The Albany Consort
“Jonathan Shrank the Music” Ryan Matos, tenor; Ben Kazez, bass; Marion Rubinstein, recorder; Laura Rubinstein-Salzedo, violin; Roy Whelden, viola da gamba; and Jonathan Salzedo harpsichord, perform intimate versions of favorite works—J.S. Bach’s B Minor Flute Suite and Cantata 205; “Winter” from Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons, and Monteverdi’s Seventh Book of Madrigals—all arranged by Jonathan Salzedo. Read more . . .
12:30 PM
Stanford Hospital Atrium
300 Pasteur, Stanford Campus
Free
www.albanyconsort.org/next-concert
The Albany Consort
“Jonathan Shrank the Music” Ryan Matos, tenor; Ben Kazez, bass; Marion Rubinstein, recorder; Laura Rubinstein-Salzedo, violin; Roy Whelden, viola da gamba; and Jonathan Salzedo harpsichord, perform intimate versions of favorite works—J.S. Bach’s B Minor Flute Suite and Cantata 205; “Winter” from Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons, and Monteverdi’s Seventh Book of Madrigals—all arranged by Jonathan Salzedo. Read more . . .
7:30 PM
Private House Concert in Los Altos, RSVP Required
$30 general admission, $70 family admission
https://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/4025047, 408-480-0182
Sonoma Bach Choir, Robert Worth, Director, with Anne Laver, organ
“The Candle” Organist Anne Laver, who played Schroeder Hall’s Brombaugh Opus 9 organ for several years during its sojourn in Rochester, New York, returns to join the Sonoma Bach Choir in a recital centering upon Martin Luther’s chorales. The concert proceeds around the circle of the year, beginning with Advent and ending with Pentecost; each occasion is marked by a chorale, first heard in bare unison, then in an organ setting, and finally in a hymn-arrangement sung by the choir with organ. As the year turns, a pattern of dark-to-light is revealed, with each stage defined by Luther’s inimitable melodies. Composers include Johann Walter, J.H. Schein, Dieterich Buxtehude and (of course!) J.S. Bach.
8 PM BachGrounder lecture/demonstration 35 minutes before each concert
Schroeder Hall, Green Music Center
1801 E. Cotati Ave., Rohnert Park
$25/$15
Tickets online
www.sonomabach.org or 877-914-2224
South Bay Recorder Society
Monthly meeting, guest conductor Fred Palmer. New members and guests welcome.
7:30–10 PM
First Congregational Church of San Jose
1980 Hamilton Ave (at Leigh), San Jose
408-358-0878 or [email protected]
Saturday, January 12
SFEMS presents Ars Lyrica Houston Chamber Players
“Semper Phantasticus!” A trio of powerhouse players—harpsichordist Matthew Dirst, violinist Elizabeth Blumenstock and gambist Mary Springfels—perform a program exploring that most avant-garde mode of music-making among German composers of the 17th and early 18th centuries—the Stylus phantasticus. Extravagant works for violin, viola da gamba, and harpsichord in solos and in combination will include sonatas by Dietrich Buxtehude and Heinrich Ignaz Franz Biber, two of the greatest exponents of the “fantastical style,” alongside free works by August Kerzinger, Philipp Heinrich Erlebach, Antonio Bertali, Michelangelo Rossi, and Johann Sebastian Bach. Founded in 1998 by Dirst, Ars Lyrica Houston is the leading early music group in Texas, whose pioneering efforts have won international acclaim, including a Grammy Award nomination for their world premiere recording of Johann Adolf Hasse’s Marc’Antonio e Cleopatra. Blumenstock and Springfels, together with Dirst, formed the subset of Ars Lyrica Chamber Players several years ago, performing programs in Houston and Santa Fe, New Mexico. These performances mark their West Coast debut as a trio, though all three are well known and highly regarded artists in this region. Read more . . .
7:30 PM
St. Mark’s Episcopal Church
2300 Bancroft Way, Berkeley
General $45, Seniors $40.50, SFEMS Members $38.25, Students with ID $15
Buy tickets online or phone 510-528-1725
www.sfems.org
The Albany Consort
“Jonathan Shrank the Music” Ryan Matos, tenor; Ben Kazez, bass; Marion Rubinstein, recorder; Laura Rubinstein-Salzedo, violin; Roy Whelden, viola da gamba; and Jonathan Salzedo harpsichord, perform intimate versions of favorite works—J.S. Bach’s B Minor Flute Suite and Cantata 205; “Winter” from Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons, and Monteverdi’s Seventh Book of Madrigals—all arranged by Jonathan Salzedo. Read more . . .
7:30 PM
St. Clement’s Church
2837 Claremont Blvd., Berkeley
$30 general admission, $70 family admission
https://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/4025041, 408-480-0182
Marin Baroque presents Agave Baroque
“Fire and Ice” Saturday in San Anselmo, the reception IS the concert! Join Agave Baroque for an exciting, engaging, and informal performance, while you enjoy refreshments and a glass of wine. Rich, dark timbres, experimental techniques, and extreme drama and virtuosity. It could be heavy metal… or it could be a violin sonata by Johann Paul von Westhoff, the wild 17th-century German violinist and composer. While Italy was busy acquiring its status as the center of the 17th century musical world, composers and performers in northern Germany, Scandinavia, England, and Holland were busy developing their own unique sound, blending Italian influences with a distinctly northern sensibility and style. San Francisco’s free-spirited early music powerhouse Agave Baroque (Aaron Westman, baroque violin; Henry Lebedinsky, harpsichord; William Skeen, viola da gamba; and Kevin Cooper, baroque guitar and theorbo) offers up this program of fiery, bold, and inventive works by Westhoff, as well as Buxtehude, Locke, Sidon, Peterson, and Roman. Early Music America called San Francisco-based Agave Baroque “an energized, free-spirited group of Californian virtuosi. Specializing in string chamber music of the 17th and 18th centuries, Agave has received numerous awards and accolades and gained local and national attention for its powerful presence and “emotional wallop” (EMA), expressive and virtuosic (SF Classical Voice) playing and gorgeous (American Record Guide) music, as well as its growing discography. Now in its eleventh season, Agave continues continues to be a unique and innovative voice in the national chamber music community.
8 PM
First Presbyterian Church, San Anselmo
72 Kensington Rd.,
San Anselmo
$10–30
https://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/4021496, or 510-845-5373
Sacramento Recorder Society
Midwinter party. Newcomers welcome. Bring recorders, stand, and other early instruments. Music provided. Refreshments.
6:45–9:30 PM
Friends Meeting House
890 57th St., between H and J, Sacramento.
sacrecorders.wordpress.com
Trinity Chamber Concerts presents Three Trapped Tigers
“The Universal Flute” Three Trapped Tigers is a recorder duo (David Barnett and Tom Bickley) that offers pre-modern music for post-modern ears and vice versa. Their concert, performed on medieval, Renaissance and modern recorders, Features TTT’s mix of music old new and new, written and improvised. The title of the program comes from the opening work, The Universal Flute (1946) by the American maverick Henry Cowell. Originally composed for the shakuhachi and the first work for the instrument by an American composer, it will be performed on the recorder by Tom Bickley. In August of 2018 the brilliant jazz recorder player and composer Pete Rose passed. This concert honors his memory with a performance of his composition Pendulum for alto and bass recorder (1995). Inspired by a visit to a clock museum, the piece is full of wonderful cross rhythms, be-bop jazz , quotes from J.S. Bach and more. TTT delves further into the music of the 14th century with works by Guillaume de Machaut and trecento Italian music with madrigals by Giovanni da Cascia and Gherardello da Firenze. The program also includes music by one of TTT’s guiding lights, Pauline Oliveros, and music by Tom Bickley, Orlando de Lassus, Aurelio Virgiliano, Erik Satie and Australian composer, Zana Clarke.
8 PM
Trinity Chapel
2320 Dana St., Berkeley
$20 General / $15 Senior, Disabled, Student (suggested donation)
For information and reservations call 510-778-1719
Viola da Gamba Society/Pacifica Chapter
Monthly viol consort playing with guest coach Gretchen Classen. Players of all levels welcome. Newcomers please phone ahead.
9 AM–3 PM
Hillside Church
1422 Navellier Street, El Cerrito
RSVP. Please email or phone ahead.
[email protected]
Sunday, January 13
SFEMS presents Ars Lyrica Houston Chamber Players
“Semper Phantasticus!” A trio of powerhouse players—harpsichordist Matthew Dirst, violinist Elizabeth Blumenstock and gambist Mary Springfels—perform a program exploring that most avant-garde mode of music-making among German composers of the 17th and early 18th centuries—the Stylus phantasticus. Extravagant works for violin, viola da gamba, and harpsichord in solos and in combination will include sonatas by Dietrich Buxtehude and Heinrich Ignaz Franz Biber, two of the greatest exponents of the “fantastical style,” alongside free works by August Kerzinger, Philipp Heinrich Erlebach, Antonio Bertali, Michelangelo Rossi, and Johann Sebastian Bach. Founded in 1998 by Dirst, Ars Lyrica Houston is the leading early music group in Texas, whose pioneering efforts have won international acclaim, including a Grammy Award nomination for their world premiere recording of Johann Adolf Hasse’s Marc’Antonio e Cleopatra. Blumenstock and Springfels, together with Dirst, formed the subset of Ars Lyrica Chamber Players several years ago, performing programs in Houston and Santa Fe, New Mexico. These performances mark their West Coast debut as a trio, though all three are well known and highly regarded artists in this region. Read more . . .
4 PM
St. Mark’s Lutheran Church
1111 O’Farrell St., San Francisco
General $45, Seniors $40.50, SFEMS Members $38.25, Students with ID $15
Buy tickets online or phone 510-528-1725
www.sfems.org
The Albany Consort
“Jonathan Shrank the Music” Ryan Matos, tenor; Ben Kazez, bass; Marion Rubinstein, recorder; Laura Rubinstein-Salzedo, violin; Roy Whelden, viola da gamba; and Jonathan Salzedo harpsichord, perform intimate versions of favorite works—J.S. Bach’s B Minor Flute Suite and Cantata 205; “Winter” from Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons, and Monteverdi’s Seventh Book of Madrigals—all arranged by Jonathan Salzedo. Read more . . .
3 PM
Los Altos Lutheran
460 S El Monte Ave., Los Altos
$30 general admission, $70 family admission
https://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/4025040, 408-480-0182
MusicSources
Ingrid Matthews and Byron Schenkman, baroque violin and harpsichord, are the founders of Seattle Baroque and have been musical partners for over 20 years. Beloved by audiences and musicians, they return to Berkeley having made a legendary impression on local audiences with their Berkeley Festival debut in 1993. Join us for musical fireworks of the 17th century, for which they share a mutual passion.
5 PM
St. Mary Magdalen Church
2005 Berryman St., Berkeley
$30 non members, $25 MusicSources members and seniors, $10 students 18 yrs. or younger
510-528-1685 or
[email protected]
www.musicsources.org
Continue reading next week’s calendar . . .
